Maharashtra Board Class 8 History Chapter 11 Struggle for equality PDF Download

Struggle For Equality

In the progress of Modern India, struggle for political freedom was important. This struggle was based on broad philosophy of man's emancipation. Therefore in the course of this struggle along with political dependence there was opposition to things like feudalism, social inequality, economic exploitation. Like freedom the principle of equality is very important. From that point of view the contribution of movements built up by various social groups such as farmers, workers, women, dalits etc as well as the stream of socialism giving importance to equality, proves to be significant. Without realising its contribution we will not be able to understand the developmental process of Modern India. Therefore let us study some of these movements.

Peasant Movement

The Indian farmers had to suffer due to the ill effects of British economic policy. The British Government used to protect the landlords and money lenders. They gave unjust treatment to the farmers. On many occasions the farmers rose against this injustice. The peasants in Bengal formed their union and revolted against the compulsion of cultivating indigo. The play 'Neel Darpan' written by Deenbandhu Mitra brought to the notice of the society the wretched conditions of the peasants producing indigo. In 1875, farmers from Maharashtra rose in revolt against the atrocities of the landlords and money lenders. The farmers in Uttar Pradesh formed 'Kisan Sabha' in 1918 under the leadership of Baba Ramchandra. The Mopla peasants rose in a great revolt in Kerala. But the British government crushed it down.

In 1936, with the initiative of Prof. N.G.Ranga, the 'Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha' was established. Swami Sahajananda Saraswati was the President of this organisation. This Sabha presented a declaration of peasants' rights to the Indian National Congress. The session of the Congress was held in the rural part of Faizpur in Maharashtra. Thousands of peasants attended this session.

In 1938, the crops in eastern Khandesh were destroyed due to heavy rains. The condition of the farmers was miserable. In order to get the land revenue waived, Sane Guruji organised meetings and processions at many places. He took out marches on the Collector office. The peasants participated in large numbers in the revolutionary period of 1942.

Teacher's Note

Peasant movements were very important in our country. Even today, farmers in India protest when government policies harm them, just like farmers did long ago.

Exam Trick

Remember: Peasant = farmer. Indigo revolt = farmers refused to grow indigo. Think of your own farmer relatives who struggle with land and water.

Points to Remember

British protected landlords and money lenders, not farmers.
Bengal peasants revolted against indigo cultivation.
Sane Guruji helped farmers get land revenue waived in Khandesh.
Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha was formed in 1936.
Thousands of peasants joined the 1942 revolutionary period.

Workers Union

In the latter half of 19th century, textile mills, railway companies and such industries were started in India. The workers group had not aroused on large scale but in this period efforts were made to solve the problems of the workers. Sashipada Banerjee and Narayan Meghaji Lokhande organised the workers at local level. Lokhande's contribution to the working class movement was so valuable that he is described as 'Father of Indian Workers Movement'.

At the same time an agitation was launched against the wretched condition of the tea plantation workers in Assam. In 1899, the Great Indian Peninsular (GIP) Railway workers called for a strike for their demands. During the anti partition movement workers carried out strikes from time to time in support of Swadeshi. After the First World War, due to industrialisation, there was rise of worker class in India, and then a necessity for nation wide worker union was felt. With this necessity, in 1920, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was established. N.M.Joshi had a major role in the working of AITUC. Lala Lajpat Rai was the President of the first session of AITUC. He told the workers to actively participate in the national movement.

Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed such socialist leaders, by spreading the socialist ideology among the workers, worked to form militant organisations. In 1928, the Mumbai Mill Workers Union went on strike for six months. Many such strikes were made by the Railway workers, jute mill workers etc. The government was disturbed to see the growing strength of the workers movement. To supress this movement legislations were made. The workers struggle proved to be supportive to the national movement.

Teacher's Note

Workers in India still form unions to get better wages and working conditions. Many factories in your city have workers who are part of these unions, fighting for their rights.

Exam Trick

Remember: AITUC = All India Trade Union Congress = 1920. Think of it as the first big union for all workers across all of India.

Points to Remember

Narayan Meghaji Lokhande is called 'Father of Indian Workers Movement'.
AITUC was formed in 1920 to organize all workers nationwide.
Lala Lajpat Rai was President of the first AITUC session.
Mumbai Mill Workers Union went on strike for six months in 1928.
Worker struggles supported the national freedom movement.

Socialist Movement

Many of the young activists in the Indian National Congress felt that for protecting the interest of the people it is necessary to overthrow the British Government. Similarly, they started realising that the society should be restructured on the principle of economic and social equality. Through this realisation, there was rise and growth of Socialist ideology.

The Socialist youths, while they were in prison at Nasik, decided to form the Socialist Party within the Indian National Congress. According to this decision, in 1934, the Congress Socialist Party was formed which included leaders like Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayprakash Narayan, Minu Masani, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia etc. In Quit India movement of 1942, these young socialists were in the forefront.

Indians got introduced to Karl Marx and his Communism. Lokmanya Tilak had already written an article on Marx in 1881. After First World War the influence of Communism was felt in India. Manavendranath Roy played active role in the International Communist Movement.

In 1925, the Communist Party was formed in India. The work of building militant organisations of workers and peasants was done by the young Communists. The British Government started feeling the danger of communist movement. Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Keshav Neelkanth Joglekar etc. were arrested. They were charged with planning of a conspiracy to overthrow the British rule. They were given different punishments. The trial took place at Meerut and is therefore known as the 'Meerut Conspiracy Case'. Even after the Meerut trial, the influence of Communist workers movement remained constant.

Teacher's Note

Socialism means everyone should be equal and everyone should have equal wealth. Young leaders believed this was the only way to free India and make it fair for all people.

Exam Trick

Remember: Congress Socialist Party = 1934. Meerut Conspiracy Case = trial of communist leaders. Karl Marx = founder of communism = socialism comes from his ideas.

Points to Remember

Socialist youths wanted economic and social equality in society.
Congress Socialist Party was formed in 1934.
Karl Marx and communism influenced Indian youth.
Communist Party was formed in India in 1925.
Meerut Conspiracy Case was the trial of communist leaders who wanted to overthrow British rule.

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